February is American Heart Month. Learn the causes of heart disease, some medications used to treat it, and steps to take to keep your heart healthy.
Heart Disease
February is American Heart Month, so now is the perfect time to remind people to take care of their hearts. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, for both women and men, so anytime is always the right time to learn how to keep your heart healthy.
The Best Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy
- Quit Smoking
- Avoid second hand smoke
- Keep stress levels manageable
- Eat healthy foods
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Control blood pressure
- Maintain an active lifestyle
- Control cholesterol
- Only drink alcohol in moderation
The dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke are well known. People also need to understand the correlation of blood pressure, cholesterol, stress and obesity on their heart's health as well.Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is also called Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and is the most common of heart diseases. The condition occurs when the coronary arteries that take blood to the heart are blocked or narrow. These arteries are damaged because of too much plaque in the blood, which is caused by
- smoking
- too much sugar in blood (diabetes)
- high blood pressure
- too much fat and cholesterol in blood
A diagnosis of arteries filled with plaque is a major problem, as plaque blocks the flow of blood to the heart, which then causes chest pain or a heart attack. Several drugs are currently used to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with heart disease. One of these drugs is Atorvastatin, a statin drug that slows the production of cholesterol in the body, to decrease the plaque buildup on the artery walls.
Warfarin is another drug used to treat heart disease. Warfarin is an anticoagulant, or what is commonly called a 'blood thinner'. It works by decreasing the clotting proteins so that the blood flows smoothly through the arteries.
Prescription drug costs can be a challenge for any budget, but discounted prescription drugs are available. RxLess is a prescription service that provides prescription medications at a discount of up to 80% off the regular price, including the drugs Warfarin and Atorvastatin. To get discounted prices on prescription drugs, visit rxless.com to see how much you could save on the prescription drugs you need.
The health of your heart is very important, but caring for your heart's health does not need to be difficult. Eat a healthy diet, avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, get adequate exercise, and be aware of your stress levels and blood pressure. Also, visit your doctor regularly to get on top of anything that may arise before it becomes a problem. Your heart needs to be cared for at all times, not just in American Heart Month.
